Nady caps Cubs comeback vs. Pirates

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CHICAGO(AP) -- Xavier Nady has had quite a journey since he last
was successful as a pinch-hitter.

Try this over less than two years: He was traded from the
Pirates to the Yankees, had Tommy John surgery and signed with
the Cubs as a free agent.

"I knew it had been a long freakin' time," Nady said Sunday
after he singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as
Chicago rallied to defeat Pittsburgh 4-3 - the Cubs' first
victory over the Pirates following seven losses.

Nady had been hitless in 10 at-bats as a pinch hitter, including
0 for 9 this season, since delivering July 19, 2008, when he was
with Pittsburgh.

"Pinch-hitting is difficult, and I have a lot of respect for the
guys that have been good at it," Nady said. "You sit around
waiting for your chance. You might go a couple of days without
playing. Then you come up ... and a lot of times it's a crucial
at-bat."

The Pirates, who had outscored the Cubs 32-14 in winning their
first five games against them this season, were going for their
first series sweep at Wrigley Field in 10 years.

"It's great to take the series, but being ahead ... you want to
win the games you're supposed to win," said reliever Evan Meek,
who couldn't protect a 3-1 seventh-inning lead for starter Ross
Ohlendorf.

After Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome prevented two runs with
a diving catch on Ohlendorf's fly, the Cubs rallied to tie it in
their half of the seventh.

"Game saver," Cubs starter Ted Lilly said of Fukudome's play,
which came on a line drive after Ohlendorf had faked a bunt. "He
was playing really shallow and had to run that down. It was
impressive."

Ohlendorf opened Chicago's seventh by walking Mike Fontenot.
Meek then gave up Fukudome's two-out single and threw a wild
pitch that allowed Fontenot to score. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno
bobbled Starlin Castro's grounder for an error before Derrek Lee
singled home Fukudome.

"I wanted to stay in," said Ohlendorf, who allowed two runs on
four hits in his second start since missing a month with back
spasms. "But when you walk a guy on four pitches to start the
inning, you're not really showing the manager that you're good
to go."

Alfonso Soriano singled off D.J. Carrasco (1-1) with one out in
the eighth, stole second and kept going to third on a wild
pitch. After Geovany Soto drew a two-out walk, Nady lined a 2-2
pitch to right field.

"We got the big hits at the big moments," Soriano said. "That's
what we've got to do more often."

The Cubs, who won for only the third time in 12 games and are
16-22 this season, repeatedly have failed in the clutch. A
productive Nady might help.

He had 97 RBIs in 2008, which he split between Pittsburgh and
New York, but missed most of last season with the Yankees after
Tommy John surgery. The Cubs signed him for $3.3 million, hoping
to create a four-outfielder rotation, but Nady still hasn't
recovered fully and has received limited outfield play.

"I'm encouraged that the elbow feels great," Nady said. "It's a
long season. I'll get my opportunities, and I just have to be
ready to contribute."

Sean Marshall (2-1) worked a scoreless eighth in relief of
Lilly, who allowed three runs on six hits in a season-high seven
innings. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth
save.

The Pirates had taken a 3-0 lead in the second on Bobby Crosby's
single and a two-run single by Lastings Milledge. Soriano
doubled in a run in the home half of the inning.

NOTES: Chicago's Lou Piniella became the 14th manager with 1,800
career wins. ... Pirates 1B Steve Pearce was back two days after
hurting his knee. He went 1 for 3, drew a walk and made two nice
defensive plays. ... Cubs 2B Ryan Theriot sat out after being
hit in the left elbow by a pitch Saturday. Asked if Theriot
would play Monday, Piniella said: "We'll see." ... Castro,
Chicago's 20-year-old SS, had his first hitless day after
opening his career with an eight-game streak. ... Pirates CF
Andrew McCutchen is 12 for 18 with nine runs and five RBIs
against the Cubs this season.